Detecting Fake Job Postings
During one of my stints searching for jobs, I came across a marketing position. The role description was vague, but mentioned I would be working on marketing campaigns for other companies. A few days after submitting the application, I received an email to schedule an interview! The interview went great, but I still didn’t really understand the job responsibilities. It felt like a song played on repeat over-and-over boasting the company partnerships, promises for quick promotions and emphasis on this career being “marketing focused.” As a sign of “good faith,” I was offered a follow up interview that provided an opportunity to shadow a current employee.
A few days later, I went to the office to meet with the Vice-President. He explained that I would have to drive a little bit to the job site and introduced me to the employee I would be shadowing. I followed him in my car as he turned into a membership retail warehouse parking lot. Naturally, I was confused and concerned. What had I gotten myself into? As I followed inside the store, we approached a blue, temporary stand that faced the superstore entrance, which displayed a television company. He dropped his bag off under the table and started explaining how they sell television subscriptions to customers walking through the front door of the warehouse. Hmm, not really the marketing position that I had in mind!
I’m sure everyone can relate to going to a job interview to find out it was nothing like the description or what you expected. It is frustrating to waste time on an interview that leads to a job you aren’t interested in. There are some red flags that you can look out for along the way to sift out the jobs that aren’t very legitimate.
1. Overly vague job descriptions
Think about it-- Why would a company not tell you what you would be doing? That would be a waste of their time. A job description should be specific. It should explain the role and responsibilities. Most of the time they have previous experience wish-lists; i.e. mentioning skills that would be an added bonus. If you are questioning what the job even is, it’s likely a scam or one you don’t want.
2. Descriptions that promise a lot of money
People are fueled by money and scammers know that. If a job sounds too good to be true, it likely is. If it mentions how quickly you can be promoted or how much money you can make in a short time without much effort, likely not legitimate. Companies typically base an employee’s salary off the experience that you bring and your skill set. It’s not typical that you find a blanket salary where one size fits all. Word to the wise: Proceed with caution if they are offering large sums of money or outright stating initial salaries that seem above industry average.
3. They don’t have a website or online presence
When you get an offer for an interview, you should easily be able to find out more information about the company via their website. If you can’t locate a website, or the website doesn’t have much company information, it’s likely a scam.
Pro Tip: You can easily check LinkedIn to see how many employees and the types of employees associated with their network.
4. The job description doesn’t use proper grammar or punctuation
If there are lots of spelling or grammatical errors, incorrect punctuation or ALL CAPS it’s likely not a job you would be interested. Real job postings are professionally written.
5. “No experience necessary”
If the job seems like anyone could fill it and there aren’t any requirements for skills, this should be a red flag. Of course, there are entry-level positions, but even those are looking for traits or skills in their employees.
Remember, you should always vet a company in the same manner they are assessing you. Be confident in your abilities to make a difference in their organization. Rather than taking the first offer thrown your way, take a step back, consider if this is the role/industry you want to be part of day-to-day. Check out this blog on four tips to feel confident and prepared in your next interview!